In the independent SE Labs' latest report, Kaspersky came out top for protection (on Windows computers), which is especially reassuring. You also have access to Kaspersky's cloud-based Application Advisor, which provides a full rundown about the content of the file, the number of users that have tested it, where in the world people are using it, along with various pieces of technical information. What's particularly good to see included is the ability to scan a file by right-clicking on it, then send it to the Kaspersky Security Network to instantly have its reputation checked out. Instead you get the core antivirus protection including file, email and web-based threats, automatic updates, quarantine and more. You can get free versions of the latter two anyway: read our free VPN and password manager roundups for recommendations. There are no parental controls or online payment protection here and you don't get a password manager or VPN as with the paid versions.

Kaspersky is a big name in antivirus, and it offers a free version for PC.Īs you'd expect, this is pared-back offering compared to the paid-for version of Security Cloud. The free antivirus from Kaspersky, Bitdefender and others all offer great protection from viruses, as you'll see below. However, that's not to say those features can't be found in free products - you'd be surprised what you can get without paying or even handing over your email address. Antivirus is typically just one component of a good security product, which can also include specific protection from ransomware as well as spam filtering, parental controls, password managers, VPNs and cloud storage. This is why using the term 'antivirus' can be misleading. It is better than having none at all but free versions tend not to include some of the extra features that come with paid-for products. The catch with free antivirus is that it doesn't always offer the most complete protection. With Avast and AVG's offerings you can protect your Android phone, Mac and iPhone too. So, after reading through our list of six recommended options below, there's no excuse for not running antivirus software on all your PCs and laptops. While there are great deals available on paid-for security suites, it still amazes us that you can have the same antivirus protection that's in Kaspersky's, Bitdefenders and other packages for free.

Many people would rather not pay for the privilege and - since you're reading this - you probably fall into that camp. Protecting your PC, laptop and even your phone from internet threats is essential these days. Jump straight to our full best free antivirus list

Total av free antivirus review